WASHINGTON: The United States is ready for unilateral military action in Syria after UK Parliament rejected a government motion in support of military assault against the Arab country, US officials said.
On Thursday, British lawmakers in the House of Commons voted 285-272 against the motion proposed by Prime Minister David Cameron to win a support for military intervention against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.
“We have seen the result of the Parliament vote in the UK tonight. The US will continue to consult with the UK government – one of our closest allies and friends. As we’ve said, President Obama’s decision-making will be guided by what is in the best interests of the United States,” said a White House statement.
“He believes that there are core interests at stake for the United States and that countries who violate international norms regarding chemical weapons need to be held accountable,” the statement further said.
Obama, who has been criticized for not consulting with Congress over Syria, met with lawmakers and other top leaders in a White House conference call on Thursday.
The 90-minute teleconference call included, among others, National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel as well as relevant committee chairmen and ranking members.
“The views of Congress are important to the President’s decision-making process, and we will continue to engage with Members as the President reaches a decision on the appropriate US response to the Syrian government’s violation of international norms against the use of chemical weapons,” the White House statement said.
The US President also on Thursday spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said the issue of chemical attack in Syria should be addressed by the United Nations Security Council, signaling Germany’s hesitation to back a US request for military action.
Meanwhile, the US has beefed up its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean. According to media reports, four US warships and a submarine are in the region and a fifth is on the way. All destroyers are cruise-missile equipped.
